ICAD Promotes - Naoise Ó Conchubhair

If you could teleport anywhere right now, where would you go?

West Kerry.

What themes do you pursue (or consistently arise) in your work?

I’m preoccupied with timelessness in design, which perhaps strangely, often means looking to the past for approaches to the future. I’m particularly interested in modernist movements both here and abroad. More broadly, the notion of longevity in the things we make is critical to a sustainable future.

Tell us, what do you have for breakfast?

I’m not a big breakfast person but like to pick up a Proper Order coffee to start the day.

What work makes you feel like a kid in a candy store?

Any day I get to draw type.

Share your most vivid childhood memory, drama and all!

I remember as a child, being out in the workshop with my dad. To get me out of the way he used to fob me off with a piece of timber and gave me permission to use what he described as the small hand saw. In hindsight, a rather big and sharp saw for a 5 year old to be let loose with. 

We’re still at it, these days I'm allowed use the big saws. Whether his skills have rubbed off on me is altogether another question.

Spill the beans: what’s your scariest experience?

The perils of graphic design: taking a perfect 45° slice of flesh off my index finger with a scalpel, on more than one occasion.

What’s your favourite colour?

Most people tell me black is not a colour! They’re probably right.

Describe a real-life situation that inspired you/your work?

I was fortunate to get a great art and design education. Learning from amazing teachers like David Caron here in Dublin and then having the opportunity to study abroad. I spent my third year studying in Finland. Those experiences were eye opening and are certainly the inspiration that set me on my way.

What’s your most embarrassing moment?

We misspelt the word for Moon in Irish, Gealach, on a national postage stamp. A difficult one to explain to the client and to my Mammy! The stamp is now a collectors item.

What’s your most empowering moment?

Winning ICAD Gold for our work with the National Museum of Ireland.

What’s your favourite book?

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami

Besides being a creative powerhouse, what other jobs have you had?

I spent a summer with my best friend working construction in Worcester, Massachusetts. Our time as self-titled demolition engineers was devoted mostly to knocking things down but 2 weeks drilling holes in a concrete ceiling was also particularly “character building”.

More recently I’ve been teaching in IADT. I love working with the students and hearing their perspectives. I’m currently helping the super talented class of 2024 reach their final deadline. Irish and international design studios watch out!

What irks you about your craft/industry?

I think anyone working in the Irish creative industries would bemoan the broken procurement system, that undervalues and undermines good design. That said, plans like Creative Ireland’s Digital Creative Industries Roadmap and the Action Plan for Designing Better Public Services point to a brighter future on this front.

On the flip side, what makes your creative heart sing?

I’m creatively happiest when down the rabbit hole untangling some design history or another. Currently, I’m collaborating with my brother Ultan of @gró.works architects making typefaces for his projects based on our research into the hand painted lettering of post war Dublin street name signage.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be, and why?

Maybe not strictly a superpower but I’d love the gift of more time.

Share something you’re head-over-heels in love with, and why it’s swoon-worthy.

My wife obviously. But together, we recently bought a house of our own which we are both head-over-heels in love with.

Now, name something you don’t love, and why.

The ‘sure-it’ll-do’ attitude. My grandfather used to say that if something was worth doing, it was worth doing right. In my book, a spectacular failure is better than a timid attempt.

Dream project alert! What’s yours?

I’ve been lucky enough to work on a few; contributing to the Irish pavilion at the 2018 Venice Biennale and working on type for Cartoon Saloon title sequences when I was at CI Studio are definitely up there. 

But the real dream — I’ve always said that when I grow up I want be a car designer. So whenever I do grow up I want to design a car. Nowadays that means designing the car of the future, an autonomous mode of transport that doesn’t destroy our planet.

Professionally, what’s your goal?

To keep advocating for great design for as long as anyone will listen to me!

Where’s your “creative space” — the place where magic happens?

Normally, wherever the “creative space” is not meant to be. But in a world pushing for remote work, my creative space is definitely in the studio surrounded by talented people.

Lastly, what time do you go to bed?

Late — I’ve always been a night owl and work best in the evenings